Advertising system



June 2, 1970 R. c. JAY

ADVERTISING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 29, 1968 INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 2, 1970 R. c. JAY 3,514,885

ADVERTISING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,514,885 ADVERTISING SYSTEM Richard C. Jay, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Taxi Advertising Company, Dallas, Tex. Filed Feb. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 709,243 Int. Cl. G09f 7/00 US. Cl. 40129 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISOLOSURE A rotatable sign has its motive unit connected to the operating arm of a windshield wiper vacuum motor whereby the sign is made to rotate by the oscillating action of the said operating arm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an advertising system. In a more specific aspect, the present invention relates to an advertising sign system which automatically and periodically changes the character of a display sign means by the vacuum power of a motor vehicle engine.

THE PRIOR ART It is well-known to display advertising signs in various positions on transport vehicles, such as taxicabs, buses and the like. The vast majority of these signs are simply a flat, stationary sign mounted on the top, back or sides of a vehicle and there is, of course, no means for changing the character of the sign at periodic intervals. There have also been a few systems available to move the sign in some fashion, for example to periodically change from one sign to another. However, all known systems of this character utilize an electric motor as a motive means for the sign. Normally, the electrical motors employed for this purpose operate 011 the motor vehicle battery and require from 8 to 1,5 amperes of electricity. This is en. tirely unsatisfactory since todays motor vehicles, particularly taxicabs, have a wide variety of electrically operated equipment, such as air-conditioning, radio, meter, and the other more basic electrical components, which place an extremely heavy load on the electrical system. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to add other accessories without causing a dangerous drain on the battery. It is also quite obvious that an electrical system of this character is also expensive, complex and difiicult to maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved sign system which overcomes all of the above mentioned problems. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sign system which is automatically and periodically changed. Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a sign system having a plurality of individual signs adapted to I be rotated into viewing position and a mechanism for automatically and periodically rotating the signs into viewing position. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sign system wherein a plurality of individual advertising signs are adapted to be rotated into viewing position and the signs are automatically and periodically moved into viewing position by the vacuum power of the engine of a motor vehicle. A further object of the present invention is toprovide a sign system wherein a plurality of individual signs are adapted to be rotated into a viewing position and the signs are automatically and periodically rotated into viewing position by a vacuum actuated motive means connected to an automotive engine. Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sign system, including, a plurality of individual signs ice adapted to be rotated into viewing position, a transmission means adapted to convert alternating rotary motion to periodic rotation of each of said signs into viewing position, the transmission mechanism is connected to the operating arm of a windshield wiper motor and the rnotor is supplied with actuating vacuum by the engine of the motor vehicle. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

Briefly, the present invention is directed to a sign system in which a plurality sign adapted to be changed in character is connected to a vacuum actuated motive means adapted to automatically and periodically change the sign and the motive means is connected to the vacuum system of an internal combustion engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The details of the present invention can be more readily DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawings shows the sign system of the present invention in conjunction with a motor vehicle. Since the body of the vehicle is not a part of the present invention except to the extent that it supports the sign system of the present invention, the body of the vehicle is shown in phantom. Mounted in the vehicle is a conventional internal combustion engine 10, having an intake manifold 12. Under normal operating conditions, as is well-known in the art, intake manifold 12 is generally under a vacuum and this vacuum may be utilized in any one of a wide variety of ways, including the operation of power steering systems and the like, and particularly the operation of windshield wipers. This vacuum also provides a power source for the sign system of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawing shows schematically a vacuum line 14 connected to the intake manifold 12 and leading to an adveTrtising sign housing 16, which is mounted on the top of the vehicle. Housing 16 is adapted to contain the operating mechanism for the sign and a plurality of individual sign elements 18 which are adapted to be rotate into the viewing position shown at predetermined, periodic intervals. While the signs 18 may comprise the entire complement of advertisements for the advertising system, it should also be recognized that in addition to signs 18, which are periodically changed by the operating mechanism of the sign system, an additional fixed signal may be mounted opposite side of housing 16. It is also quite obvious that signs 18 may be rotated into viewing position at the rear of housing 16 and the fixed sign may appear at the indicated, front position of signs 18. Preferably, the signs 18 are illuminated and electrical energy for illumination is supplied through electrical lines 20 from battery 22. It should be clearly recognized that vacuum line 14 and its connection to manifold 12, and electrical lines 20 and their connection to battery 22 are schematically shown for illustrative purposes and the details of such connections, and conventional accessory items may be supplied by one skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the details of the operating mechanism of the sign system of FIG. 1. In order to simplify the drawings and advance the understanding of the invention, housing 16 has not been shown but it is to be understood that the operating mechanism of FIG. 2 would be mounted on appropriate mounting plates and 3 walls of housing 16. Referring in detail to FIG. 2, vacuum line 14 and electrical lines 20 are assigned the same numbers in FIG. 2 as they were in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows three signs 18 mounted for use in the advertising system. In FIG. 2, advertising sign 18 to the left of the figure is the one in viewing position at the stage of operation shown in the drawing. Advertising signs 18 are, of cource, elongated, flat signs mounted on the sides of a tubular, triangular-shaped, rotatable support 24. Support 24 extends substantially the entire length of housing 16 (FIG. 1). In order to illuminate sign 18, a light is positioned on the housing above the sign in view. For this purpose, an elongated fluorescent light 26 is mounted above the sign 18 which is being viewed. Light 28 is preferably a 30-watt fluorescent light mounted in mounting standards 28 and supplied with electricity through lines 20. Light 28 is, of course, stationary while support 24 is rotatable with respect thereto. Light 28, in contrast to an electric motor necessary for rotation of a mechanism such as support 24, requires very little energy-normally less than about 1 ampere. Accordingly, this light can be supplied with energy from the battery of the motor vehicle without any significant drain on the battery. In an alternative means of illumination, the signs 18 may be translucent and the light show through the sign as through slots 30 in support 24 from light means 2628'. Mounted on one end of the support frame 24, and fixedly attached thereto and having rotatable shaft 32 is a rotatable spider 34. Spider 34 is provided with radial arms 36. Arms 36 have formed therein slots 38. Mounted adjacent spider 34 and also mounted on a rotatable shaft 40 is a rotor 42. Rotor 42 is mounted to rotate 360 in the direction shown by the arrow. Fixedly mounted in an extension of the periphery of rotor 42 is an operating pin 44. Operating pin 44 extends through rotor 42 and is adapted to engage slots 38 of spider 34. Upon each complete rotation of rotor 42, operating pin 44 will engage a slot 38 of spinder 34 and as rotor 42 advances through 120 of its rotation,

it rotates spider 34 through 120 1n the direction shown and thus positions a second one of signs 18 in viewing position. This sign then remains in viewing position during the remaining 240 of rotation of rotor 42 at which time pin 44 engages the next succeeding slot 38, rotates spider 34 another 120 and displays the next successive advertising sign 18. Shaft 40 of rotor 42 is fixedly attached to the interior rotating element of an overrunning clutch means 46. Clutch means 46, in the embodiment shown, is a sprag-type clutch adapted to convert alternate arcuate movement to rotary motion. Fixedly attached to the periphery of clutch 46, as by welding, is a clevis arm 48. Clevis arm 48, in turn, has its free end pivotally conthe windshield wipers of a motor vehicle. Vacuum for the operation of motor 56 is supplied through line 14, as

previously shown in FIG. 1. Motor 56, of course, operates in a back-and-forth, alternating, arcuate move-.

ment as shown by the outline of operating arm 52 in the drawing. This arcuate movement is normally about 90. The arcuate movement of operating arm 52 is transmitted through travis arm '50 to clevis arm 48 which, in turn, moves the periphery .of clutch 46 in an alternating, arcuate path. This alternating, arcuate movement is converted by clutch 46 to rotary movement of rotor 42. Under normal operating conditions, rotor 42 will make one complete revolution of 360 every 60 seconds. This, in turn, Will rotate spider 34, in the direction shown, once each revolution of rotor 42, consuming 20 seconds of this period. This rotation then places a succeeding one of the signs 18 in viewing position and this sign will remain in viewing position for the remaining 40 seconds of the 60- second period. Thereafter, rotation to the next succeeding sign will occur.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention, which applicant has found most convenient and most easily constructed has been shown, it is tobe understood that many variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the present invention. For example, the spider 32 may include more than three arms, and hence, support 24 may carry more than three signs 18. The number of signs is, of course, a matter of choice which depends to some extent upon the size of the sign, the desired viewing period, and other practical considerations. In addition, the light 28 may be mounted in a different position than those shown. It should also be recognized that, while a motive mechanism or a transmission mechanism designed to convert the alternate, arcuate movement of the motor 56 from such arcuate movement to a periodic rotary motion of spider 34, is shown, other transmission mechanisms may also be utilized. For example, if only two signs are to be utilized, or an alternating motion is to be applied to a single sign for animation or the like, the transmission mechanism can simply transmit the arcuate movement of motor 56 to the sign. Such mechanism may, of course, reduce the number of alternations where two fixed signs such as sign 18 are to be alternately positioned in viewing position. However, for animation of a sign, such reduction in a number of movements may not be desired. Likewise, and in a broader sense, it is also not necessary to utilize a windshield wiper motor having an alternate, arcuate movement. Instead, a vacuum motor having a rotor operating in a rotary fashion may be substituted and it would then be necessary for the transmission means to simply reduce the speed for animation or the like or to change such rotary motion into intermittent rotary motion. All of these variations and modifications can, of course, be made by one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An advertising system for a vehicle having an engine adapted to develop a vacuum comprising, at least two sign means mounted on the periphery of a rotatable support, means for mounting said rotatable support on said vehicle, vacuum actuated motor means operatively connected to the vacuum system of said engine and adapted to rotate continuously, and transmission means operatively connecting said rotatable support to said motor and adapted to convert said continuous rotation of said motor to periodic rotation of said support whereby each of said signs is moved into viewing position at a predetermined time and for a predetermined viewing period.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the motor output is a bidirectional arcuate movement and the transmission means includes means adapted toconvert the bidirectional arcuate output of said motor to the periodic rotation of the support.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes light means for illuminating said sign means when said sign means is in viewing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,296 3/1932 Hueber.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 4033, 

